Apparatus for manufacture of cardboard and like boxes



E. L. BISHOP Nov. 5, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOXES Filed June 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,l'izvenor Eon/w 4. 5/5/101 wflka E. L. BISHOP Nov. 5, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOXES Filed June 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,lizm izzar V Eaw/n/ 4,, B/SHOP W *5 %I%J Patented Nov. 5, 1940 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CARD- BOARD AND LIKE BOXES Edwin Leslie Bishop, Birmingham; England Application JuneS,- 1939, Serial No. 278,156

- In Great Britain June 17, 1938 i 2 Claims;

The present invention has relation to the manufacture of cardboard and like boxes. In connection with such manufacture ithas been proposed to employ a cardboard or like blank having a rectangular crease constituting four walls and certain slots or slits whichpermitted of tablike extensions uponcertain walls, preferably the end ones, being bentinto superficial contact with the extremities of adjacent walls and being secured thereto to constitute the box-like formation. It has been usual to rivet the lateral 'extensions to the walls and it has also beenproposed to secure the tabs by gum or like adhesive. l he present inventioniis concerned with the last mentioned proposition and has for its object to provide a particularly simple and efiicient means for the application of gum or like adhesive to the tab-like extensions whereby the blanks can be treated expeditiously prior to their beingvs'ealed to constitute the box. 4 I

According to the present invention a cardboard or like blank which is creased and slotted or pslitted as hereinbefo-re, is passed between two deflectors or members adapted to bend the walls to which the tabs are to be attached, as well as tabs on the remaining walls into a position sub stantially at right angles to the blank, the said deflectors or members maintaining the first mentioned walls in the upright position whilst permitting the tabs to fall substantially into the plane of the blank by their own inherent resilience, whereby they are virtually exposed and caused to project, being brought into contact with an adhesive applying apparatus.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, reference may be had to the appended drawings, on which:

Figure 1 illustrates in longitudinal sectional elevation a machine for applying adhesive to the tabs of a cardboard blank in connection with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate in fragmentary persoective operative stages prior to gumming hereinafter referred to.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a slightly modified arrangement.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for applying adhesive to the tab-like extensions (1 a of a blank 11 such as hereinbefore referred to, comprises grooved horizontal rails I) (see particularly Figures 3, 4 and 5) whereon the blank (2 in its flat state is adapted to be conveyed, as for instance by means of endless chains having projections c which bear againstthe extremities of the blank .a. On the upper side of the rails 12 are provided endless belts d (see particularly Figure 1) which maintain the blank flatwise upon the rails b. The pulleys d and rollers d are mounted upon arframe d pivoted at d so that the lower stretch of the beltrd bears upon the board a by virtue of gravity; Disposed on the outer side of the rail b is anupright deflector 6; this deflector e at its frontal; or operative part is of curved or he1icoidal formation, the ,said curved or helicoidal part terminating inedge e inclining towardthe I blank. Spaced slightly from these deflectors are 15 subsidiary deflectors 1 having vertical walls (Figure 2) on their inner faces, sloping forward edges f iEigure l.) andinclining rearward faces 1" (liigure Further along the conveyor slightly removedifrom the subsidiary deflectors are rollers running in or associated with gum. or other" adhesive' with which twin pressure-rollers g are associated; hand 72 are final deflectors. The blank a is placed in its flat state upon the conveyor chain c and travels between itself and the pressure belt d being carried along by the projections c on the endless chain c. As the tabs a a and side walls a come into contact with the first deflector e they are gradually raised into the verticalposition (see right hand extremity of Figure 2 and Figures 3, 4 and 5). When the leading tab a has passed the vertical edge e of the first deflector e it falls horizontally or outwardly, mainly by the inherent resilience of the material whence it is engaged with the subsidiary deflector I (see Figure 3) and directed into a true horizontal position between the pressure rollers g and the gumming roller g. It is to be appreciated however that normally the side wall a is considerably longer than the tabs a a so that as the blank travels through the apparatus the side wall a is maintained in the vertical positionisee Figure 3) pending the falling of the first tab 11 when the said side wall is engaged by the vertical wall I of the subsidiary deflector i so that in fact whereas the tab a falls outwardly or horizontally, the side Wall a is always maintained in a more or less vertical position. When however the side wall a has passed the end of the first deflector e, the last 5 or second tab at is again released between the two deflectors e and) and falls outwardly or horizontally by the inherent resilience of the material whence it is passed beneath the second deflector f to come into contact with the adhesive rolling mechanism 9, g which is disposed on the outside of the rails or frame. The subsidiary deflector f is adjustable longitudinally toward and away from the primary deflector by means of an arm I This is necessary to render the apparatus suitable for dealing with blanks of differing dimension, it being essential that the tabs a a fall between the deflectors e and whereas the side walls a are maintained in the upright position by the deflectors.

A blank according to this invention may have oblique creases a (Figure 3) permitting of the [box being folded in a flat condition when completed in well known manner.

The deflector j is hollow and may be slid until such time as it virtually embraces or contains the deflector 1h. In case of large boxes it may be advantageous to completely dispense with the adjustable deflector f and rely upon the deflector h.

It is to be appreciated that with the mechanism hereinbefore described it is essential for the side wall a to have a greater linear dimension than that of the tabs a and a whereby the tabs shall fall below the deflector f whereas the wall a shall be engaged thereby and not fall.

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective cardboard blanks having tabs a and a which are equal in length or substantially equal in length, or which may even be of greater lengththan the end wall a" as may be desirable Where a relatively deep box is required. In this arrangement the end wall a has a vertical dimension greater than the corresponding dimension of the tabs a and a as particularly illustrated in the drawings, and accordingly the deflector e is connected to the deflector f by means of a longitudinal bar i which may be adjustable in height or otherwise by means of the arm i by the use of which bar i it is to be noted that the end wall a is supported vertically while the tabs and a fall beneath same by their own inherent resilience prior to the gumming operation.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying adhesive to the tabs of a box blank of resilient sheet material of the type including a central portion, side and end marginal portions to be folded to positions at right angles to the central portion to constitute the side and end walls of the box, and tabs on the ends of corresponding marginal portions to be folded against and adhesively connected with the other of said marginal portions to secure the different marginal portions in upright positions relative to the central portion, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the blank along a predetermined path with the tabs and the marginal portions against which they are to be folded disposed at the sides of the blank as regards the direction of advance of the blank, fixed means effective in response to advance movement of the blank to engage said tabs and the side marginal portions of the blank therebetween and to fold said tabs and said side marginal portlons upwardly relative to the central portion of the blank, other fixed means efiective in response to continued advance of the blank to hold the side marginal portions of the blank in upwardly folded positions and to release the tabs to permit them to return to positions in the plane of the central portion of the blank, and other means operable as the blank is further advanced to apply adhesive to the tabs while the same are disposed in the plane of the central portion of the blank and while the side marginal portions of the blank between said tabs are held in upwardly folded positions to clear said adhesive applying means as the blank is advanced.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including fixed means operable in response to advance movement of the blank and following release of the upwardly folded tabs to positively move said tabs to positions in the plane of the central portion of the blank for application of the adhesive thereto.

EDWIN LESLIE BISHOP. 

